Painted Crescent
Common NamePainted Crescent
Scientific NamePhyciodes picta
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)32
Primary Colorsblack, orange, cream
HabitatPrairies, grasslands, open dry areas, desert washes, roadsides
Geographic RangeSouthwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado) and northern Mexico
Host PlantsSymphyotrichum ericoides, various asters
Flight PeriodMarch to October (multiple broods)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in clusters on host plant leaves. Larvae are spiny and feed communally when young, later dispersing. The species overwinters as a larva.
Identification TipsLook for the intricate pattern of black, orange, and cream-yellow on the dorsal wings. The small size and rapid, erratic flight are also characteristic. The ventral hindwing often has a pale crescent, which is a key identifier.
Description
A small butterfly with a complex dorsal pattern of black, orange, and cream-yellow spots and bands. The ventral hindwing typically features a distinct pale crescent mark.
